One...two...skip a few

You know that phrase one...two...skip a few?  Well I guess that pretty much sums up the last several months.  Yes, it really has been over a year since I wrote in this blog, but in my defense I forgot my password for quite a while and then got very busy with school.  I am about a month away from graduating and My Fair Lady is about 3 months away from getting her Henry Higgins back.  That being said, there are so many things to do and so little time.  Having the person I love literally half way around the world has really been an eye opener.  I realize how much I need her and how insignificant I feel without her.  When all is said and done, she is all that really matters.  That being said, I take my leave for the day.

Variety

Well this week has seen some interesting happenings, none of which are really connected so I have no choice but to title this post variety.  Let me start with the exciting news I received on Monday.  After checking my e-mail I was surprised to see three e-mails from my girlfriend.  I was so surprised I almost deleted them thinking it might be spam or a hacker.  However I did read them and found that she had received permission from her mission president to write me and I can e-mail back.  This speeds up the communication process substantially.  Second on the list of things is that I put together a poster to present my research in Washington DC this following week.  Somehow the Print Shop managed to take my beautiful poster that I had printed and completely destroy it in the process of laminating it.  I am still in the process of getting other copies.  In addition I have re-discovered my talents in sports I have no played in a long time such as football and volleyball.  For football I discovered that I make quite the quarterback, able to throw 50 yard touchdowns with perfect precision.  My aim in throwing the ball surprised me a great deal, especially because I never played as quarterback before.  In volleyball I was surprised that I could play with those who take volleyball seriously.  Most of my volleyball experience comes from random get together groups who hardly know how to play the sport.  It was refreshing to see that being cooped up in the basement laboratory hasn't completely killed my athleticism completely.  Well, this will have to end my list for now due to an overwhelming desire to sleep.  Haha, maybe I am getting lazy after all.

Sentimental

The other day I wrote a heartfelt letter to my future children encouraging them to serve a mission.  Tonight I wanted to share a slightly edited excerpt from that letter.  I apologize to any I may offend by my comments, but they are according to my beliefs and I cannot deny the feelings I know to be true.  I think it safe to assume that the majority of my reader pool will share some beliefs in common with me or else interest would have waned early on. 

The most important teaching you learn from a mission is that none of us can make it back to Heavenly Father alone. Christ was the perfect example of this because He paid the ultimate sacrifice for each of us.  Jesus states in Matthew chapter 16 verses 24-25: “Then said Jesus, unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” Clearly we cannot afford to be selfish our entire lives and I can testify to the happiness that accompanies a life of service to others.  A mission is the first real opportunity that one has to truely devote oneself to service.

When I began my mission I was 19, and when I finished I was 21. I’ve often thought about why we are asked to serve our mission at such a young age and at a time that seems so critical to our future. Serving a two year mission at the age of about 20 brought to mind tithing. It just so happened that I served what was then 10% of my life. For me it meant that I was putting aside the appropriate time for God in my life. Of course that age is critical to the future. Many of life’s most important decisions are made around that age. I chose a career, how and where to further my education, who I should marry, and how my money and time would be spent for the rest of my life. If you can afford to give 10% of your life to God at such a critical time in your life then you are on the right track to succeeding along God’s path of happiness. Just think about it, in a time when your priorities are being set God asks you to put Him first. I did; I put God before my career, before my education, before money and time, and even before a spouse. If you can make that choice and continue with that choice every day after that, then you will have set yourself up for a mortal life of happiness and eternal exaltation.  Nothing can compare or compensate for the things that are learned through missionary service and the blessings that inevitably follow.

Letter for the future

Have you ever written a letter for someone later in your life?  Perhaps your children or another loved one?  Well, that is precisely what I did today.  Now that "My Fair Lady" is safely in the Philippines serving away as missionaries do, I thought of how much I want my children to share the experience of what a mission is like.  One of the hardest problems with writing to such an invisible audience is finding a style that will convey your message.  After all, what are my children going to be like?  What age should I finally give them the letter?  With so many variables it makes you second guess nearly every sentence, kind of like writing on a blog.  Those who may read this are just as invisible to me as are my future children.  So invisibles.....what is it that would stir a desire in you to serve a mission?  What are your fears and concerns?  What can I possibly tell you that would make you feel like a warm blanket of comfort and concern has been lovingly placed around you, enveloping your entire being with the heated desire to do more and be more.  How would you know that I loved you and cared about what your decision might be?

Well, your silence is very reassuring.  Haha, ok so obviously you cannot answer me before I write that which is already written, but these thoughts all went into the making of a beautiful letter.  If nothing else I want to serve a mission again...and again and again.  Alas, for the time being tis' proposterous to dream of such things.  Someday I will return to the mission field and this time I will get to choose my companion.  Well actually I have already chosen, but I hope she chooses me too.  My sweetheart is so very far, as if distance weren't enough they put an international dateline between us also, putting me a whole day behind her.  I miss her a great deal.  To her aide I pledge my continual support, whatever the need. 

Fishing in liquid nitrogen

So the other day I happened to have one of the funniest moment in the lab I could possibly conceive.  A lot of our experiment recently have involved fluorescent dyes that require us to work in the dark.  We try to keep our samples as cold as possible and when we are done with them (ready to store them for an extended period of time) we flash freeze them in liquid nitrogen.  This is done by dipping a ladel in a large tank of liquid nitrogen and then dropping the small containers into the ladel.  Sounds easy enough right?  Well try doing it in the dark with containers that like to stick to your gloves!  Anyway, I dropped two of three containers into the large tank of liquid nitrogen which instantly disappeared out of site.  The third container was in the ladel but when I tried to pour out some of the liquid nitrogen the container flew out and landed in the tank as well.  For a few minutes I blindly tried to scoop up the samples.  Naturally to no avail.  I even got fancy and tried to create a vortex by moving the ladel around in a circle.  Still to no avail.  I gave up.....for the time.  As many of you know liquid nitrogen tends to evaporate quite quickly so I had to close the tank up as soon as possible.  A few hours later I came back with a co-worker.

Inside this tank of liquid nitrogen are 6 racks of square boxes, each containing several samples for various experiments.  We got the idea that if we removed all of them we could see more clearly.  We also turned on the lights.  As we removed all the racks a great deal of mist/fog formed at the opening.  From experience I learned that if you put one rack back in the fog goes away (not sure why).  Anyway, I put a rack back in and again began to create a vortex, this time using the rack.   It was much easier to create a vortex this way and soon I could a great deal of movement as well as feel the pull of a circular current.  My co-worker was handed the ladel.  As a sample floated into sight briefly he would attempt scoop it up with the ladel.  After a few minutes we were finally able to fish them all out.  Naturally we turned off the lights as soon as possible and covered them up so we could return the racks with the light on.  If nothing else it left us with huge grins and a funny story.  It became the day we went fishing in liquid nitrogen. 

Long Day

Today I knew would be a busy one, turns out I was right about something for once.  I went in early to the lab to get some experiments going.  I knew that an acquaintance from school was starting his internship at the lab today so I figured that if I got the boring stuff done early enough that he might be able to do some of the other things.  Even that way there was a lot of "down time" which I took advantage of to teach him as much as I could about what we are doing.  I showed him around and helped point out key locations he would use.  We also spent a great deal of time talking.  There was a pretty wide range of topics, but mostly we just talked about more important things like my fair lady, our missions (his and mine), school, etc.  It was a pretty productive first day for him and a very long day for me.  I'm surprised I still have a voice after talking all day.

After work I tried to get my car in shape by getting an oil change and attempting to get my blinker fixed.  It looks like I still have to wait for the light though.  Then I ran to Wal-mart in hopes of finding some microcassettes that I could record for my sweetheart.  I guess they don't sell them anymore....at least not at Wal-mart.  Someone suggested radio shack, but by then it was late enough that I was certain I would have to wait at least another day.  So I drove straight to FHE where we had a quick lesson and the proceeded to play Bunko.  Its usually a fun game, but I had such a bad luck streak that it wasn't really fun at all.  I lost 9 of 11 games.  Not a vegas night, that was for sure....well, unless I bet against myself.

The majority of the day my thoughts were on my girlfriend.  As such I felt like I multi-tasked the entire day because I wasn't always left with time to stop and think about her.  Naturally I brought her up in nearly every conversation, but  not everyone shares my interest in that area.  I miss her a great deal.  It was our year anniversary of when we started dating.  It has been an amazing and wonderful journey.  I often wondered if I could ever be so happy.  Now I know the answer is yes, and it only gets better.

Sound familiar?

Have you ever watched "The Best Two Years"?  If you haven't, please do.  It gives insight into the life of a missionary and many of the comical things that seem to happen to them.  Today I felt like I was acting out one of the scenes when I noticed there was mail in the mailbox.....on Sunday.  Obviously I hadn't checked yesterday.  Anyway, to my surprise I had a package from my fair lady.  As I opened it I was surprised to find a microcassette.  This is where the enactment of the movie kicked in.  I was suddenly in a craze to find something that would allow me to listen to this tape.  I zoomed around the house looking everywhere, but to no avail.  Just to be sure I asked my aunt who confirmed my suspicions, there was no tape player in the house.  I looked for the nearest shoes (in the movie I believe they were wooden shoes) and convinced myself that I would go over to neighbors and ask if I could borrow one, if they had it.  Luckily my aunt was being visited by our bishops wife at the time who mentioned her husband may have one.  In my wooden shoes (sandals) I drove over to his house and borrowed the prized possession.  Its so good to hear her voice again.  Oh, just so you know I didn't get dumped like in the movie.  Thank goodness there were some distinct differences.  Anyway, it made my day to hear from her and for once I mean that in a literal sense.  Emotions are so much easier to detect by voice than by letter, especially when the tape cuts out ever so often mid-sentence; poor girl probably almost drowned recording the tape.  I sure do love her though and I know she loves me too.  We miss each other.  It isn't easy.  She struggles on a daily basis to not think about me so she can focus on her work.  I struggle waiting for the next time I will be able to receive word of her.  Everytime I hear her name or hear news about her, whether it be from her or someone else, I consider to be a gift.  I treasure each of these gifts.  I'm certain that their value far surpasses any offer that could ever be made on them.  Those who can, treasure those who are close to you, while they are close to you.

Is it wrong?

So I can't help but almost feel bad about using some old stake directories the way I did.  Near the front it always has a little note about using the directory only for church purposes.  What exactly does that mean?  Here is what I used it for.  Before my girlfriend left we did a little bit of wedding planning.  Some would say it is a little premature, but if you think about it, if you don't plan to succeed it will be nearly impossible to succeed.  Obviously we understand that things may happen but we are more than willing to be prepared and do a little work for nothing if that is the end result.  If the result is success than we are prepared, which is of greater benefit than any downfall to the idea.  Anyway, she gave me an old stake directory with highlights on all those she wanted to invite to the big event.  Likewise I obtained an old stake directory, highlighted it, and then transferred data from the two onto a file we have been working on for the wedding.  In effect I created an initial guest list/invitation list to add to the other info we had decided on (such as colors, a few songs, etc.).  I must say, those kinds of lists are dull to type and very time consuming.  I hope that it was not in vain.  Obviously it will need updated when the event is much closer to happening, but this initial information speaks mountains for remembering those who need to be invited.  If plans go badly then if nothing else, my half will make an excellent Christmas card list.  Church use....not sure, but who can really define that anyway?

Missionary mania

Today I got another letter from my fair lady.  I was so happy to hear that she is doing so well.  I couldn't help but laugh as she proceeded to tell me of the many things from my letters she had shared with her friends at the MTC.  Apparently we are quite the entertaining pair and so, as my girlfriend puts it, they live vicariously through our letters.  The funny thing to me is that I have so many people I know who are serving missions and I am writing to such a small percentage.  I'm certain that I could do better.  Anyway, I guess I should double check myself before sending anything out because I never know how it will be used.  My girlfriend thanked me for my support and asked some questions about things she read in the scriptures.  Her mission has opened up a whole new dimension to our relationship.  I am more than happy to help her in any way possible and we are able to study and search the scriptures together for a common purpose.  I think that before her mission we were more likely to read instead of study.  Hopefully this is something we can apply to our relationship to last an eternity.

Storm of blessings?

I woke up still feeling under the weather this morning.  I wasn't too surprised, but I wasn't about to complain.  The interesting thing is that I was woken up by the wind.  Yeah, thats right....I said wind.  The wind was so strong that I could here it, and there were no cracks or anything like that in the window.  I looked outside and wondered if I was about to be swallowed up by a tornado.  It actually got my heart racing which is a first even though I've driven through tornado warnings, and watched big dust devils from inches away.  All day it was windy and cloudy.  At times there were just huge gust of wind, other times it was hail and or rain by the bucket full.  In short, it was a very stormy and scary day to be outside.  I didn't go outside though, well except to get the mail of course.  Anyway, at the same time I had a fantastic day.  I don't even know why other than the fact that I found out I had been awarded a grant to continue my research.  The school is offering $500 to support me while continuing my research.  I was shocked for two reasons.  First, I thought the guy I had talked to had completely forgotten about me.  Second, I just deferred from the school for the semester.  In other words the school decided to award me a grant regardless of my current academic status.  The award is very flattering and humbling considering its irregular circumstances.  So, I've decided that today was a storm of blessings, I'm sure someone needed the wind and moisture too.

How to destroy your stomach

I usually pride myself on my cooking abilities and decisions, but recently I have been way to lazy and I'm suffering for it dearly.  The other day I figured I'd make a nice salad, but the lettuce had frozen and it had sat there a while.  Oh well, its just going to be a little soggy right?  Mistake number 1.  Then I was like I should have egg mcmuffins.  I don't have canadian bacon so I'll just use bacon.  Well, I have a whole bunch of bacon thats about to go bad so I decide to cook it all up at once.  Mistake number 2.  You should have seen the amount of grease left behind.  With this grease I decided to cook my eggs because I had no oil to keep the eggs from sticking to the fry pan.  Mistake number 3.  Too much grease and not cooked well enough on the inside.  As if that wasn't bad enough, I found out the lunch meat I had been eating all week had been expired for a while.  Mistake number 4.  Ok, he couldn't possibly have screwed up worse than that right?  Enter mistake number 5.  I bought some chinese a few days ago and instead of re-heating it I just ate the cold chicken the way it was dipped in cold sweet and sour sauce.  It didn't taste too bad, but the stomach immediately let me know that one was stupid.  To top it all off I haven't been getting enough water lately.  I'm not use to working in a laboratory where water bottles are forbidden.  In effect I have to plan and go out of my way to get enough water.  That really doesn't happen much for me.  End result?  Headache, fever, dizziness, diarrhea, etc.  Smooth....real smooth.  I suggest being a little wiser than me in your dietary choices.

How to confuse a bishop

Sometime last week I called the bishop requesting an interview.  Seeing as I have only been in the ward a few weeks (10 more or less) and I was gone on roadtrips for the majority he had very little clue who I was.  Anyway I left a message on his answering machine because he wasn't there.  When he returned the call I had to walk him through the process of introducing myself all over again.  Finally, he referred me to his secretary who would make an appointment for this Sunday.  Likewise the secretary was a little confused as to who I was.  After getting an appointment set up I felt relieved.  When I got to the bishops office today he sat me down.  Knowing I could only cause more confusion by not explaining the purpose for the interview I pulled out the papers I needed signed for my academic deferral from BYU-Idaho.  I indicated that the papers were for a deferral process so that I could continue my internship and that we only needed to review one of the two papers.  Of course he grabbed the wrong paper first.  Half way down he was like, what do you need me for?  I showed him the other paper.  He looked at it and said, this is different from the ones I normally sign.  Ugh.... "yes, this is not for admission to BYU-Idaho, it is an endorsement for my academic deferral," I responded.  "Oh, okay," was his reply.  He looks at the bold words, honor code and dress and grooming.  "Are you okay with these rules?" he asked.  "Yup".  He got up and said ok, well thanks.  Shortest interview ever.  To his favor though I was able to stop him long enough to ask for a calling.  Who knows, I just might become part of the ward yet.

Another day

By now it has become apparent what will be hardest for me the next several months.  Every night when I stop to write to my fair lady I feel as though I am able to talk to her and be with her.  In contrast, my days drag on knowing there is no chance that I will hear from her for some time.  The postal system feels more and more like snail mail.  It is difficult to never know when the next letter will arrive and it is even worse when I know there are letters, but they haven't arrived yet.  I feel tricked running to the mailbox, only to find another day has passed without a letter.  Two letters remain in Oregon from over a week ago.  I've tried to be patient but I want so badly to read the contents even if I did receive a letter this week.  Hearts are made only to take so much pressure.  The human heart has to worry about the distance the blood must go, the pressure necessary to transport it quick enough, and a rate which will not destroy the tissues itself.  Having a missionary in the field is symbolically likened unto a sprint which leaves the heart pounding fiercely.  Does it have the power to go the distance?  Can I survive the rate and pressure?  Well, I think that I can.  So I continue, day by day, looking for another day.

Not as it seems

It isn't always apparent what the next course of action should be in research.  Sometimes something that appears as simple as 30 minutes can dominate an entire work day.  I found that out the hard way.  It made me think of how many things we likely take for granted, and in the end we feel short changed or short handed at the results.  The lesson to be learned, start as early as possible...don't procrastinate.

MAR Day

Working for the government always brings with it more and more bizarre behavior.  Today was MAR day, what that stands for I doubt I will ever know.  However, most people would simply call it training day; a day in which you go around from table to table where some poor administrator has been roped into repeating some simple words of training over and over again.  If you are lucky, you get there some what early when there are fewer people and their voice hasn't completely glazed over into a monotonous blur.  I had to laugh at the attempt to make training day "fun".  In order to make it "fun" tax dollars were spent on a theme.  The theme was Avatar after the sensational movie released a short while ago.  Posters for the event were poorly made, mispelling practically everything that had to do with the movie.  Decorations and costumes were somewhat better, but again the thought of tax dollars went through my mind the entire time, spoiling all my fun.  In the end, it was a training day; filled with paperwork, signatures, and unwilling participants.  Naturally I don't blame any who worked so hard to make it a possibility, its just sad that in the end its all so dull anyway.  Maybe it is the fact that half the training still has to be done online that leaves a sour taste in the back of my throat.  Regardless, it gave me a full day.  In addition to the clamour of training day I was introduced to yet another colleague who will be joining the team in developing the project at hand.  I can't help but feel freshly inadequate seeing as the new colleague is yet another Ph. D with a difficult accent to understand.  I can't complain, in fact I am happy for the extra assistance that may make the project more fruitful.  By all means I would like to have my research published before returning back to school.  That is for time to tell.

Long Absence

I can't believe I haven't written in as long as I have, but I've been traveling trying to sort out all the details of extending my internship.  The trips have taken quite the toll on me; leaving me letterless for an extended period of time as well as exhausted and sunburnt on the drivers side only.  All I know about Patricia has been what her family has forwarded to me.  It is great to hear that she sounds more and more like a missionary.  She is working very hard and making everyone very proud.  Below is her last e-mail addressed to all who wish to know about her experiences.

Spring has finally arrived in Provo!!!! thank goodness. it hasn't snowed in over a week!!!!
Every week we do a Wika task or language task. Wika is tagalog for language. This week's task was to meet someone in the Teaching Evaluation Center and tell them about our families in tagalog. Since I had an old family picture (both grandma schardt and hercules [family dog] in it) I used it to talk about you guys! I think i did pretty good. After wards, we taught a lesson to the same person in english about the restoration of the gospel. Even though the volunteer was a return missionary from manila, it was still a pretty powerful lesson. My companion Sister english, the spirit and myself make a pretty good team. Thank goodness for the spirit. It would make teaching nearly impossible. The language is coming along pretty good. I've stayed out of the health clinic this week which is a miracle! I've been playing sand volleyball all week and doing the splits for the ball. Last night we had a fireside by brother Allen from the missionary department in SLC. It was amazing he pretty much gave us a pep talk about being kind to ourselves. he also reminded us of a president hinckley quote "Don't do anything stupid." He reminded us that even though once we get out into the mission field and we are jr. companions we still have the right to excersie our agency and tell our companion no if they are doing something stupid. Then he showed a bunch of old "Mormon" commercials from the 70s. I finally finished reading preach my gospel last night. Now i'm working on my lesson plans for the 5 lessons. Some of the scriptures i've been reading during personal study are 2 nephi 2, all of Enos, 2 nephi 3, Ether chapter 5 D&C 76 and 107, oh yeah and moses 5, If you don't have a book of mormon and would like to see what i've been reading you can log on to LDS.org they have all the scriptures you need on there to read. Love you all and miss you!!!

Letters

Yay!  I finally got letters from Patricia.  It was so refreshing to have her address me again.  She is feeling much better and is out of isolation.  Her companion is Sister English.  It appears that Sister English has been at the MTC longer, maybe even months?  Anyway they get along just fine.  Of course the biggest trial at this time is being away from family.  I imagine myself wrapping my arms protectively around her to comfort her.  I dry the tears that drop and let her know it will all be okay.  Though it isn't real the feeling travels and maybe, just maybe she can feel just a little better.  The beginning of the mission is always the hardest.  Anything new by definition is exciting and scary to all mankind.  It will be alright though, things always work out in the end.  We just have to settle in and get to work.  In the mean time she has my letters and my love.  I hope that my support can carry her through the toughest of times.  I am wherever she needs me.

Juice

As the engine to my car comes to a calming silence the call has already made its way to me.  Music from "Chariots of Fire" begins as I try to make a sudden dash towards the house.  Keys may fall, feet may trip, I may fall, but the yearning continues.  Naturally the fall stops the music like a broken record.  Summoning strength from beyond the realms of taste, hunger, and satisfaction....I rise to my feet only to find the music renewed in its energetic vigor.  Finally I reach the screen door.  In my haste I don't expect a locked screen door.  It is only a matter of milliseconds before momentum proves its has a secret lethality to it.  Like a fly just hit by a fly swatter, my face and the screen become one.  Naturally there is a bounce or recoil effect and therefore I stammer backwards with a newly printed mesh grid upon my face.  I have not been defeated, I cannot be defeated...at least not easily.  Maybe I should change music.  I change the channel and suddenly my resolve is doubled as I hear "We Are the Champions" play in my head.  I charge the screen door again, this time coming to a halt just before hitting it.  My key enters and turns....I think it was the right way.  Anyway the screen door begins to sob as I triumphantly swing it open.  Door #2 now stands in the way.  We all know that Door #2 has a secret hate for me.  Time and again it has jammed itself just to see that I am unable to get in.  Today it was the sneakiest of all, it opened without complaint.  As I cautiously passed through, I half expected a blade to fall like a guillotine.  I know that I will have nightmares tonight of what the door secretly has planned.  For now, I passed it without problem, a red letter day to be sure.  Ahh, by now you have forgetten the reason for all this rush, but I haven't.  I know where it is, I know what I want, but I still have to do my chores.  With superhuman power I manage to blaze through two more doors to collect the mail without breaking a sweat.  I fill up several smaller water bottles with a gallon of water displaying my feats of grace and balance.  Then I clean up the water on the floor that started flowing upwards as though gravity had suddenly changed, that or else maybe there wasn't as much grace and balance as I originally submitted, but its ok, we all have our downfalls.  Finally the time has arrived.  As I swing open yet another door a cool breeze sends goosebumps up my arms and I shutter with delight.  Orange, purple, or yellow.....hmmmm, decisions, decisions.  I grab the purple and hug it tenderly.  I nuzzle it up against my chest feeling the curves and contour of a container I am all too happy to see.  In leaps and bounds I make my way up the stairs, hitting my head on the shallow roof in the process.  It doesn't matter, I am seconds away.  I jump to my bead, bottle in hand.  Slowly I release the captive and am sent into a feeling of utopia.  With every gulp I am refreshed 1000 times over.  I put the lid back on and bundle up into the fetal position, protecting my prized posession.  Juice.  Today it was grape juice.  Every day I come home to juice and if there is no juice it isn't home, the store is my new home.  I deny being carried away with or being addicted to juice.  I just like it....a lot.  Drink juice, its good!

Host

I find it intriguing how many times I become a host while at my Aunt's residence.  I have hosted at least 5 different friends and also my direct family all within the last month.  Its incredible how they seem to find me, even when I'm out in the middle of nowhere.  I love having company.  Having my friends near keeps my spirit alive.  In contrast to the lonely evenings I am frequented with due to the nature of my internship, their warm smiles, and seperate circumstances are a brilliant display of fresh air.  At times I feel like the sage whom travelers seek out for advice, rest, and healing.  In no way do I lay claim to any of these abilities, but the way they look at me pierces my soul with the presumption.  I cannot explain why, for in no way have my travels and experiences made me any more qualified to help than any other random sap.  In the world I am a nobody, barely worth being recognized at all.  People will search where they will, I just find it ironic that so many have sought where they have.  I am a host.  So come one, come all.  I am your friend and will take you in.  Whatever you need I will try to supply.  This has been the desire of my life from the beginning.  I am a medic, a host, a friend....I am here to give freely, and I joy in it.

Sick

Today I finally heard from my girlfriend for the first time since she arrived at the MTC.  Her family was kind enough to forward an e-mail to me.  She has already learned a little bit of the language she will be speaking, Tagalog.  It was so good to hear that she is doing so well in every way....well, except the fact she got swine flu the day she arrived.  You will have to forgive my snickering because we both feel the same way about it.  Its pretty common for one of us to say to the other, "You would!"  Well, that's just her luck.  Although I am genuinely concerned for her, I know she is fine and will continue to be.  She is learning and loving every moment of it.  Better to get sick in the MTC than in the Philippines anyway.  I have to admit that I had a pressing desire to know of her well being, like I knew something wasn't completely right.  At the same time I knew that she was doing well.  Turns out that I was right.  Now that I know she had the swine flu, the feeling makes sense and everything is just fine.  I love being this close and sharing all I can with her.  My daily letters have been full of encouragement and simple advice.  A portion of me has been called to the Philippines to serve a mission for God.  That has helped me to begin preparing myself a new so I can serve when called upon, in what ever form that may come.  Maybe it will just be a letter to say hi and it will be alright.  Maybe it will be an occasional story from my own mission.  Sometimes it could just be the knowledge that I am here, waiting and working hard to make it something even better to come home to.